Briefs

June 15, 2007|STAFF REPORTS

LANSINGLowered flags to honor Grand Rapids soldier Gov. Jennifer Granholm has ordered that U.S. flags in Michigan be flown at half-staff today to honor a soldier from Grand Rapids who was killed in Iraq. Army Specialist Shawn D. Gajdos, 25, died from wounds suffered after his unit was attacked in Baghdad by insurgents. Gajdos was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kan. New bills would target human trafficking Prosecutors in Michigan could get more tools to fight human trafficking under legislation introduced Wednesday in the state House. The Democrat-backed bills go further than legislation passed last year, supporters said. Sponsors said the new bills offer a broader scope than the existing state law. "Human trafficking is slavery, plain and simple," said Rep. Dudley Spade, a Democrat from Tipton and one of the package's sponsors.